Choosing to stay near the house, away from the road and pond, she is allowed go outside without a big brother posted guard.

No longer smuggling crayons or scissors to create scribble-murals on her bedroom walls or trim several inches off one of her pig-tails, she has discovered the joys of art within the boundaries and can help herself to crayons, markers, scissors, construction paper, water colors, and all the supplies in the cupboard.

Aaaah, “The Law of Freedom“. I have a new appreciation as I read through the book of James again.

I’m living in the “good ol’ days”. These are the days of grace and freedom.

It is so much easier to keep the law when I’m not a slave to selfishness and when I am governed by the Spirit of God rather than a list of rules.

Enjoying freedom in Christ, the law is pretty simple:

Love God. Love Others.
“All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:40

As eldest enters the teen years, the rules of the house are changing, but the principles of freedom are the same.

— Oh, precious years with my children still in the home! —

Lord, help me to teach and disciple them to know the Law, yet to live in freedom.

“…if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.” Galatians 5:18
“…through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2

Like the son who finds a tape recording of his long-deceased father,Or the mother who receives the surprise phone call from her son at war,Like the daddy who hears his son say, “Da” for the first time,

Someone longs to hear the sweet sound of YOUR voice!

“You’re so good at this.”

“You really have a gift.”

“You say just the right words.”

“I wish I could say it ‘as good as you’.”

“Those are the very things I would have wanted to say if I could put my thoughts into words.”

“I wish I could pray like you.”

I hear the compliments. So sincere.I am encouraged, but I am a little sad.

Dear One, don’t you know that I am nothing special. I have struggled with words all my life.

I was never a particularly confident reader, and I was a horrible speller (still am). I was extremely shy as a child and practically mute in public.

I would talk myself into a mile-wide circle trying desperately to express “what I meant to say”, only to have my older sister sum it all up in one sentence. — She could win any argument because her words made sense. — I just had a lot of feelings sputtering out with a deep conviction that something was not right with her premise. — Even as I remember my frustration with words, I sense the sloppy-babbling of this paragraph.

Yes, I’m an avid reader now. Yes, I love to write. Yes, I am passionate about words. But, God does not hear me or tune out because I am eloquent or ramble on. He’s not impressed with verbiage, however flowery or concise. God loves to hear me pray because I am his child. I tell Him what is on my heart. That’s it. That’s all. That’s my “secret”.

He is my Father.

I am a mother.

And, like Him…

I would rather read the love note on my pillow from my daughter than Shakespeare’s 116th sonnet.

I would rather hear my son pour out his heart when he is upset or afraid than listen to the next president deliver his inaugural address, be it crafted by the most gifted speech writer.

Why?

Because they are my children. I love them, and nothing blesses my heart more than when they share their hearts, their thoughts with me.

If my prayers “sound good”, it is not because I’m trying to impress. They may just “sound” natural.

Sometimes I do pray for hours when I can hide away from my family and be alone with the Lord that long, but usually, I just have a running conversation with Him. It begins with “Good morning!” and ends with my last conscious thought. It is not awkward to start praying; because I’ve never really stopped. I just occasionally open my mouth so that other people can listen in on the conversation.

He whispers to me, impresses things on my heart while I pray, and when I stop talking, quiet myself and listen, I hear His voice the clearest. It all comes down to conversation. Listening and speaking.

Prayer is talking to God… and sometimes you don’t even have to use words.

That kind of intimacy with God, I can’t explain. Some of the sweetest times of prayer, I’ve just cried my heart to Him, knowing He’d understand.

The sweetest prayers to God are the ones that pour out from the sincere hearts of His children.

the prayers of the youngest child… (loved hearing this bed-time prayer:) “Dear God, it’s nice to know you like me as much as I like you. … Thanks for staying awake all night and watching over us. It must be nice to not have to go to bed.”

or the prayers of the new believer praying for the first time… “God,… boy, it’s weird to know You hear me. I hardly know what to say since You’re really God and all, but here goes…”

Pray. Right now.

Your Heavenly Father wants to hear your heart.

He just wants to hear from YOU.

“Lord, please let every person who reads this post experience this awesome thing that You and I have. May they have a relationship with You that is unique and DEEP and intimate!”

Ever had a day when nothing seemed to go right?…nothing was easy,and little can be shown for all the effort?

Ever had two or three of those days in a row?

When I come to the end of a day (or week) like that,despite how I feel,I can tuck my children into bed,turn out the lights,lay my head on my pillow,and “count it” a good day.

Today may have felt like a horrible day; still, this day “counted”.

Though I feel I accomplished little.It was not wasted.I learned something.

Regardless of how I feel,if what I am doing is “as unto the Lord”, my efforts to persevere in doing goodare not in vain.

I am glad to see this day end, but I have another reason to be joyful.God told me to…

“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials;knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

Character is proven under the trial and pressures of the daily grind,And, even when I blow it,I have a reason to rejoice:I will have another chance to try again tomorrow.

“If you look in the mirrorAt the end of a hard dayAnd you know in your heart you have not liedIf you gave love freelyIf you earned an honest wageAnd if you’ve got Jesus by your sideYou can thank the fatherFor the things He has doneAnd thank him for the things He’s yet to doAnd if you find a love that’s tenderIf you find someone who’s trueThank the LordHe’s been doubly good to you.” – Rich Mullins

Until I look at the world from a higher view.
From here, I can see the sunrise.
The dark world is filled with light.

But, you know what they say,
“Red sky in the morning…
sailors take warning.”

What does a day hold?
I have such a limited view from where I sit.

So much more is going on than I am aware.

So many people,
variables,
surprises,
details…

I can no more control “my world” than I can control the weather.

But, I know the ultimate Traffic Controller…

He even has control over the weather.

At this altitude I can’t help but be reminded, “God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Eph. 2:6 I am in Christ, and Christ is at the right hand of the Father. All is brilliance and light in His presence, and He is always with me.

It is bright and sunny today.

A change of perspective.
The world looks so different from here…
so brilliantly bright,
so cheery.

In a few hours, I will return to a cloudy world, where so many do not know the reality of the Light that is veiled from their view.

Yet, I have this hope.

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2

So, I will not live as those who have no hope; nor will I keep it to myself.

Lord, I remember You are in control of the weather,
and You are sovereign over all the details of my life.
The perspective You show me when I am in You presence
assures me that everything will be alright.